Euro-Zone Business Activity Picks Up in January

Hopes for Strong Recovery Also Boosted by Increase in Consumer Sentiment

The euro-zone economy started the year on a stronger note, with Germany leading a January pickup in business activity, while consumers were more optimistic than at any time since June 2011, according to surveys released Thursday.

The surveys will reassure policy makers that the return to growth that began in the second quarter of last year is slowly building momentum and makes it less likely that the European Central Bank will soon...